Dating and numbering mechanism



Feb. 17, 1931. 'M. o. JONES ET AL V 1,792,642

DATING AND NUMBERING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1gwuewfom,

Feb, 17, 1931" M. o. JONES ET AL 1,792,642

DATING AND NUMBERING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Feb..17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MONTGOMERY OSBORNEJONES AND WESLEY P. SHOMAKER, OF RICHMOND, VmG-INIA,

ASSIGNORS TO THE DUPLEX ENVELOPE CO. INC., OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, A COR-PORATION 0F VIRGINIA DATING AND NUMBERING MECHANISM Application filedOctober 1 This invention relates to combined dating and numberingmechanisms for use in connection with rotary printing presses.

An object of this invention is improved means for changing each of saidmechanisms at predetermined intervals in the cycle' of operations, ofthe printing press with which they are-fised.

According to this invention the dating and numbering mechanisms aremounted on a rotating cylinder co-operating with an im pressioncylinder. The dating andnumberin cylinder is provided with two shaftscoaxial therewith, one of which is operatively connected to the datingmechanism and the other of which is operatively connected with thenumbering mechanism, so that angular movement of the shafts relative tothe cylinder produces changes in the dating and numbering mechanisms.Means are provided for actuating the shafts at predetermined intervalsof rotation. By means of this arrangement sets of envelopes, or thelike, bearingidentifying dates and numbers'may be automatically printed.

Otherv objects, novelfeatures and advantages of this invention will beapparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings,wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the dating and numberingcylinder embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectionon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial side elevation of a print ing pressa equipped withthe cylinder disclosed in Fig. 1; i

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end view of the cylinder showing a part of theactuating means for the numbering mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another part of the actuating means forthe numberin mechanism, and I Fig. 7 is a view of the opposite end ofthe cylinder showing part "of the actuating means for the datingmechanism. Y

The dating and numbering cylinder comprises a hollow axle '10, uponwhich are mounted the collars 11, between which extends a shield 12, theends of which fit in 2, 1928. Serial No. 312,007.

mounted a shaft 17 to the inner end of which i is attached a radiallyextending arm 18 projecting through a slot 19 in axle 10. A. ratchet arm20, having a notch 20a, is keyed to the outer end of the shaft 17 andisheld in place by a washer 21 and nut 21a. A ratchet wheel 22 isrotatably mounted on washer 21 and is held against axial movement by thecleat 23 carried by the gear 15.

A pawl 24 is pivotally carried at the end of an arm 24a pivotallysupported on the gear 15, and is adapted toengage the teeth 25 of theratchet wheel 22, and, under certain conditions, to project into thenotch v20a of the arm 20. A spring 26 having .one end at tached to thepawland the other end to a stop 26a carried by the gear 15 for the lever24a normally holds the pawl in the retracted position shown in Fig. 4.The roller 27 is supported by the frame of the printing press inposition to be engaged by the arm 24a upon each rotation'of thecylinder.

The engagement of the arm 24a with the roller 27 causes movement of thepawl to advance the ratchet wheel to the extent of a single tooth. Thedepth of the notches be-' tween the ratchet wheel teeth, with certainexceptions, is such as to prevent the pawl from projecting into thenotch 20a, so that normally the pawl has no efl'ect on the arm 20. Oneor more of the notches between the teeth are of sufiicient depth thatwhen the pawl enters these notches it also projects into thenotch 20a,thereby moving the arm 20 slightly and causing corresponding angularmovement of I the shaft 17. In the particular embodiment disclosed, onlyone deep notch 22a is provided, but there may be as many deep notches asdesired according to the intervals at which the arm '20 is to beactuated. If it is desired to actuate the arm 20 upon eachrotation ofthe cylinder, the ratchet wheel 22 is removed and I the pawl 24permitted to engage the notch 20a at each 0 eration of the arm 2412..

A sha 30 is rotatably supported by and extends between the collars 11.An arm 31 is aflixed'to this shaft and its free end is connected to thefree end of the arm 18 by a link 32. A pair of numbering mechanisms 33are rotatably mounted on a shaft 34 extending between the collars 11 androtatably supported thereby. These numberin mechanisms are actuated byoscillation 0 arms 35 supported by the shaft 34. The free ends of thesearms are connected by links 36 with arms 37 fastened to the shaft 30.

When the awl 25 is brought into engagement with t e ratchet 20 to effectangular movement of the shaft 17 relative to the axle 10, the arm 18 ismoved as indicated in Fig. 2. Likewise, throughthe medium of the link-32and arm 31, the shaft 30 is rotated slightly, as indicated in Fig. 3.The arms 35 are caused to swing b the links 36 and arms 37 thusadvancing y one the numbers of the numbering mechanism: A spring 28 isprovided to return the various elements just mentioned to their normalposition after actuatiomwhen the pawl 24 is retracted by its spring 26.

he arrangement of the arm 31 and link 32 and of the arms 35 .and links36 is such that the arms 35 move more slowly at the end of the operatingstroke than at the start, thus preventing overthrow of the numberingmechanism.

i In the opposite end of the axle 10 is rotatably mounted a shaft 40, atthe inner end of which is provided a pinion 41. This pinion meshes witha pinion 42 carried by the collar 11 and extending through a slot in theaxle 10. The pinion 42 in turn meshes with a pinion 43 keyed to theshaft 34. On the shaft 34, between the numbering mechanisms 33, ismounted a roller 44. An endles belt 45 passes around this roller, whichis in driving engagement therewith, and also around other guide rollers46, supported by rods or shafts extending between the collars 11. Arms46a, mounted on the axle 10, support one of the rods carrying the roller46, and are angularly adjustable to vary the tension of the belt 45.This belt is composed of a series of typecarrying links pivotallyconnected together and located below the printing surface, except at asingle point where one link at a time is designed to cooperate with theimpression cylinder of the press.

The outer end of the shaft 40 is provided witha ratchetwheel 47, whichis held in place by cleats 48. A pawl 49 is pivotally connected to theend of an arm 50, pivotally mounted on the collar 16. A spring 51normally holds the pawl in retracted position. On the frame of the pressis provided a roller 52, which is adapted to be engaged by the arm 50upon each rotation of the cylinder to move the pawl 49 into engagementwith the link. Thus, upon each rotation of the cylin-l der, the datingmechanism is; advanced a single step and a different date is printedupon each rotation of the cylinder.

The above described datin and numbering mechanism is particularlyadapted for use in connection with the printing of church collectionenvelopes and the like, where enve- V lopes are put out in sets, theenvelopes of each set bearing the same identifying number and thesuccessive envelopes being dated chronologically. Where the set contains52 envelopes, the ratchet 25 is provided with 52 teeth and a single deepnotch, so that the numbering mechanism is chan ed after one completecycle of the dating mec anism. The number of teeth in the ratchet wheel25 and the number of deep notches may be varied as desired to meetdifferent conditions.

Where it is desired to number envelopes successively, omitted and thenumbering mechanism caused to advance upon each rotation of thecylinder. Under such circumstances, it may be desirable to print thesame date on all the envelopes, and this may be accomplished by swingingback the roller 52, so that it does not actuate the arm 48.

It is, of course, apparent that various structural modifications may bemade in the apparatus above described, without in any way departing fromthe spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim v v 1. In a device of the characterdescribed, a cylinder, amovable printing mechanism mounted thereon, a shaft rotatably mounted insaid cylinder co-axialthereof, means connecting said shaft and printingmechanism whereby rotarymovement of the former relative to the cylindereffects movement of the latter, means for effecting rotary movement of'said shaft upon rotation of said cylinder and means rotatable with saidcylinder for periodically preventing operation of said last named means.

2. In a device of the character described, a cylinder, a movableprinting mechanism mounted thereon, a shaft rotatably mounted theratchet wheel 25 may be.

in said c'ylinder co-axial thereof, means conet and pawl mechanism foreffecting rotary movement of said shaft relative to said cyloperativelyassociated with said ratchet and said pawl upon rotation 'in saidcylinder co-axial thereof, an arm extending radially from said shaft,linkage connecting said arm and printing mechanism for actuating thelatter by the former, means for effecting rotary movement of said shaftupon rotation of said cylinderand' means. rotatable with said cylinderfor periodically preventing operatlon of said last named means. p

4. In a device of the character described, a cylinder, a movablepriilting mechanism mounted thereon, a'shaft rotatably mounted in saidcylinder co-axial'thereof, an arm extending radially from said shaft,linkage connecting said arm and printing mechanism for actuating thelatter by the former, a ratchet mounted on said shaft, a pawl pivotallycarried by said cylinder and operatively associated with said ratchetand means engageable by said pawl upon rotation of said cylinder.

5. In a device of the character described, a cylinder, a movableprinting mechanism mounted thereon, a shaft rotatably mounted in saidcylinder co-axial thereof, means con.- necting said shaft and printingmechanism whereby rotary movement of the former relative to the cylindereffects movement of the latter, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted onsaid shaft, a ratchet fixed to said shaft. a pawl adapted to engage theteeth of said ratchet wheel and ratchet, the notches between the teethof the ratchet wheel with at least one exception being too shallowtopermit the pawl to engagef said ratchet and means engageable by"saidpawl upon rotation of said cylinder.

6. In a device of the character described, a cylinder, a movableprinting mechanism mounted thereon, a shaft rotatably supported by saidcylinder, means connecting said shaft and printing mechanism wherebyrotary movement of the former relative to the cylinder effects movementof the latter, ratchinder and means periodically to prevent operation ofsaid rachet and pawl mechanism. 7. In a device of the characterdescribed,

a cylinder,a movableprinting mechanism mounted thereon, a shaftrotatably supported by said cylinder, means connecting said shaft andprinting mechanism whereby rotary movement of the former relative to thecylinder effects movement of the latter, ratchet and pawl mechanismfor'efiecting rotary movement of the shaft relative to the cylinder,means to actuate said pawl and means to prevent excess movement of theprinting mechanism. 8. In a device of the character described,

a cylinder, a movable printing mechanism mounted thereon, an operatinglever for said printing mechanism, a shaft rotatably mounted in saidcylinder co-axial thereof, anarm carried by said shaft, linkageconnecting. said arm and lever whereby rotary movement of the shaftrelative to the cylinder effects movement of said printing mechanism,ratchet and pawl mechanism for effecting rotary movement of said shaftrelative to said cylinder,

7, means to actuate said pawl upon rotation of said'cylinder and meansperiodically to prevent operation of said ratchet and pawl mechanism. p

9. In a device of the character described, a cylinder, a movableprinting mechanism mounted thereon, a shaft rotatably mounted in saidcylinder co-axial thereof, means connecting said shaft and printingmechanism whereby rotary movement of the former relative to'the cylindereffects movement of the latter, ratchet and pawl mechanism for effectingrotary movement of the shaft relative to said cylinder, means to,actuate said pawl upon rotation of said cylinder, and means on said pawlto engage said ratchet to prevent excess. movement thereof. I

10. In a device of the character described, a cylinder, a movableprinting mechanism mounted thereon, a shaft rotatably mounted in saidcylinder co-axial thereof, means connecting said shaft and printingmechanism whereby rotar movement of the former relative to the cy indereffects movement of the latter, a ratchet fixed to said shaft, a pawladapted to engage said ratchet, means en-, gageable by said pawl uponrotation of said cylinder, and means for periodically, preventingengagement of said pawl with said ratche 11. In a device of thecharacter described, a cylinder, a movable printing. mechanism mountedthereon, a shaft rotatably mounted in said cylinder, means connectingsaid shaft and printing mechanism whereby rotary movement of the formerrelative to the cylinder effects movements of the latter, means foreffecting rotary' movement of said shaft upon rotation of said cylinder,and means for periodically preventing operation of said last namedmeans.

12. In a device of the character described, a cylinder, a movablerinting mechanism mounted thereon, a sha rotatably mounted in saidcylinder, an arm extending radially from said shaft, linkage connectingsaid arm andprintingmechan'ism for actuating the latter by the former,means for effecting ro tary movement of said shaft upon rotation of saidcylinder, and means for periodically preventing operation of said lastnamed means. J

13. In a device of the character described, a cylinder, a movableprinting mechanism mounted thereon, a shaft rotatably supported by saidcylinder, an arm extending radially from said shaft, linkage connectingsaid arm and printing mechanism for actuating the latter by the former,a ratchet mounted on said shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted on saidcylinder and being adapted to engage said ratchet, and means foractuating said pawl upon rotation of said cylinder. 14. In a device ofthe character described, a cylinder, a movable printing mechanismmounted thereon, a shaft rotatably supported by said cylinder, meansconnecting said shaft and printing mechanism whereby rotary movement ofthe former relative to the cylinder efi'ects movement of the latter,aratchet mounted on said shaft, a pawl pivoted to said cylinder andbeing adapted to engage said ratchet, and means for actuating saidratchet upon rotation of said cylinder.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.MONTGOMERY OSBORNE JONES.

WESLEY P SHOMAKER.

